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[rebelsamurai]

[ Amidst the impressive technological marvels and distractions present on the ship, Johnny found it impossible to resist the allure of commandeering the network for a brief moment. While he's no deckhead or with a fancy BD strapped to his head, Johnny at least knows how to work a camera. This is why everyone is getting a good view of the scowling rockerboy as he puffs smoke directly into the camera.

Yeah, he's smoking again already. Don't ask how he got his hands on another e-cigarette. It probably involved a five-finger discount and a lot of schmoozing. Despite being such a complete asshole, Johnny is at least charming.

He's a charming little parasite. ]

Okay, chucklefucks. [ He mutters before taking another drag on his cigarette. Smoke billows from his nose as he exhales, resembling an angry demon/oni graphic on his tank top. ] Let's have a little talk.

Where the fuck are all of you from? Half of y'all look like your average Joe, while others look like wannabe supermodels who just walked off a Jinguji photoshoot.

[ Johnny lets out a chuckle as he brushes some ash off his cigarette. ]

So, who wants to go first? State your name and where the hell you're from.

Comments

[justamobster]

Have at, though half the time you'll get mooks askin' you what the hell it means.

[ Ladon appreciates not having to define his slang for once. And he's going to take the inference that 'cheesecake' refers to women. ] Not many dames or kids. The cutesy robots ain't makin' it any less disturbin'.

[rebelsamurai]

[ Unlike some, Johnny actually read a few books. He dabbled in everything from pompous authors like Nietzsche to suspense thrillers. He also spent some of his free time watching noir films back in the day. Kerry would often tease him about it, but the truth is that Johnny genuinely enjoys that sort of stuff. That's why he's familiar with this choom's lingo. ]

I bet. Not too many folks around here seem to know what "choom" means either. They think it's some kind of curse when all it means is "buddy" or "pal."

[ He chuckles lightly, more amused by the situation than annoyed. ]

The fuckin' bots are creepy in my opinion. They're all smiles and cupcakes now but I bet they have a nasty side.

[justamobster]

[ And Ladon has read... exactly zero. If you don't count the newspaper, which he has a regular practice of having read to him. It's adorable.

But hey, successful businessman despite the illiteracy. That counts for something. ]

Choom, huh? S'got a nice ring to it.

I got a feelin' the cuteness is so we don't go pullin' 'em apart for scrap parts. See how long that works for 'em, yeah?

[rebelsamurai]

Not very long since I'm plottin' on dissecting one of the little fucks soon.

[ He's not even joking about that. Johnny's bored and when he gets bored, he gets destructive. ]

By the way, what year was it in your world? For me, it was 2077.

[justamobster]

Yeah? Been wonderin' how they tick.

[ He's not about to take apart something that looks like a friendly woodland creature. He's got a feeling that would cause some social unrest. And well. Angry mobs don't tend to work out for his kind. ]

City I live in goes by the year 507. S'different in other parts of the world.

[rebelsamurai]

[ Causing social unrest is Johnny's specialty. Just let the rockerboy handle it. ]

Year 507? The fuck? Are you from 500 B.C. or some shit? What the hell kind of year is that?

[justamobster]

S'been around five hundred years since the city was built, yeah? Was a fort of some kind back then. Garevia's got 'nother year entirely, so does Firani. 2077's a helluva number. Think the Firs're only up to twelve-somethin'. 1248.

[rebelsamurai]

A fort, huh? I'm guessin' you're not some hard-nosed guido from America.

[ It just dawned on Johnny that this guy isn't American, nevertheless from Earth. ]

What are Garevia and Firani? Two other cities?

[justamobster]

Nope. Ain't from an "um-eric-uh." [ Though he has heard of it. In a very strange, convoluted way. ]

Yeah, we call 'em the Big Three. Nieve, Garevia, Firani. Other towns and cities 'round, but the Big Three're where most folks live. Knocked over banks in Garevia for a few years, broke outta the hoosegow and headed to Nieve, ain't looked back.

[rebelsamurai]

[ "Um-eric-uh?" That wins a snicker from Johnny. He's trying so hard not to laugh, but no dice. ]

Sheesh! You're definitely not American with that bullshit pronunciation.

[Not that he's offended or anything. The version of America he recognizes is essentially a lifeless entity, perpetually being plundered by predatory megacorporations that continue to siphon off the nation's resources. In layman's terms, Johnny is particularly patriotic for various reasons.]

The hoosegow? You were in prison, choom?

[ That gets an eyebrow raise from him. ]

What was the charge?

[justamobster]

And you ain't a Fir, a G, or a towner, but I ain't jammed over it, yeah?

That time 'round it was bank robbery, attempted robbery, armed assault, larceny, auto-theft... [ He takes a moment to think. ] Think they threw assaultin' an officer in there because I spat on a cop. Basically anythin' that would stick at that point. Which's why me and Hardy broke out.

[rebelsamurai]

Ain't jammed, huh? Stealin' that too.

[ At this point, Johnny is bound to start talking like Landon if this keeps up. He's soaking all this bullshit up like a sponge. ]

Shit, you got one hell of a rap sheet! Maybe you outta cool it a bit, choom. However, I'm all for spittin' at the pigs whenever.

I fucking hate the cops in Night City. They're just another gang but with a badge.

[justamobster]

Been behavin' myself for a few months, yeah? Doin' most things above board. Ones that matter, anyhow.

[ Sneaking into the penthouse of a recently deceased celebrity doesn't count. Nor does taking her books. She wasn't using them anymore. What's a little B-and-E hurt?

Crawling up the goddamn garbage chute was not something he ever wants to repeat, though. Ever. ]

Sounds a lot like Nieve. S'one of the reasons this place don't feel right. Why the hell're they recruitin' for security? And why're they the only ones who get guns? Gotta be an angle there, one I ain't keen on.

[rebelsamurai]

Listen, I've been bitchin' about that since I arrived here. These fuckers got me in the Archive and Research division despite me being an ace mercenary.

[ Okay, Johnny. V's the ace mercenary, not you. ]

I haven't met any of the security detail assholes yet, which is both a good and bad thing. I just wonder if there's a way for us to get our hands on the weaponry before they do.

Again, I don't trust anyone pretending to be a cop.

[justamobster]

Support here. Guess I ain't a fit for nothin' else. [ Though he's willing to stretch the hell out of that title. Smuggling is support. So's shaking down delinquent payments. And bootlegging, and smash-and-grab. He can be very supportive in those cases. ]

Most the fellas I've talked to got suckered in by the weapon. Can't blame 'em too much, usually I got ways of protectin' myself without my piece but... Not so much right now. Some got the character to look the other way, though.